Custom-built dream cottage near ski resort

7,000 square foot symphony of green living

Designed by developer Matthew Shear, this six bedroom, 5.5 bathroom cottage is located in Mont Tremblant. The exterior wood is Alberta cedar, which lasts much longer than other types of exterior woods. The stone is a type of slate that resembles sandstone.

Photograph by: Robert J. Galbraith
, Montreal Gazette

Here is the ultimate destination for your city escape; where the loudest sound you will hear is the melodic yodelling of a pair of loons, or the bubbling waters rising from the hot tub.

Set among the pine, birch and maple forests of Quebec's Laurentian region, this contemporary, custom-built dream cottage is wrapped in a symphony of green living, offering expansive panoramic views overlooking crystalclear Lac Mercier and the surrounding woodlands and rolling hillsides.

Built in 2010 and situated mere minutes from Mont Tremblant Ski Resort, this wooded hideaway, with 7,000 square feet of living space, is located at 156 Ch. Des Futaies, minutes from Tremblant Village. The property includes 6 bedrooms and 5.5 bathrooms and is listed for sale by Sotheby's International Realty Quebec, for $2,095,000.

Beautiful white pine beams and columns extend vertically from the ground level to the apex of the double height cathedral ceilings.

These, and the use of horizontal pine beams throughout, give the cottage a unique and balanced interior, where the rich (though subtle) tones of the rounded pine beams bracket or frame the open concept of the living area. Both combine into a harmonious palette of calmness and linear architectural Zen.

Definitely a modern masterpiece, this custombuilt cottage was designed and implemented with the finest materials and finishes. This is reflected throughout the property in the eat-in gourmet kitchen, Ecosmart ventless fireplace, geo-thermal heating, granite counters, wine cellar, guest house, gym, and exterior shell of Alberta cedar.

The south-facing placement of the cottage and its numerous double-glazed windows maximizes the use of natural light and warmth from the sun, as it arches across the front of the home. Its integrated, non-intrusive landscaping highlights conformity with the surrounding woodland, water and sky.

"As a developer, I wasn't too impressed with the style of architecture that was being built in this region," said the cottage owner, property developer Matthew Shear.

"It's antiquated; like some of the Scandinavian log cabin styles that came out of the 1980s, which are found across the area. We fashioned the design on this old log cabin style, with a much more contemporary and vertical application," he stated.

Shear's design influence comes from travelling throughout Europe and the United States. "If you visit European ski areas or even the U.S., the architecture is very different, very positive and advanced, compared to where we are now. You'll have huge stone castles that modernize, incorporating the most advanced kitchen settings and materials such as wood beams and columns, as modernizing factors."

The owner/developer adapted the dwelling to the surrounding environment, rather than altering the environment to fit the residence. "Our philosophy was to blend in with the environment, rather than putting a stamp on it," stated Shear. "Basically we kept the trees very close in proximity to the house, therefore bringing a continuous flow of trees inside and outside, creating the natural warmth of themes that exist in nature. This inspiration is taken in part from a melding of Spanish coastal architecture and Quebec influence."

The exposed wood beams and columns are not only aesthetically beautiful; they function much as the skeleton that supports our body. "They also shape and give strength and rigidity to the structure," explained Shear.

Though out of reach of most readers, it is refreshing to see the result of designers who push the limit in contemporary building design; using architecture as art and as a signpost to who we are and where we are going.

"What's stunning are the wood beams and columns.," says the broker for the property, Joseph Montanaro. "It's like bringing the forest inside the house. This is part of what makes this cottage so unique; not your typical chalet."

Montanaro said that the cottage was originally priced at $2.8 million but has been reduced to $2,095,000. "We reduced the price substantially for a quick sale. This isn't just a cottage, but a real house for full-time living with all the modern conveniences and custom adaptations. It's an exceptional site near a host of outdoor activities."

For more information please contact Joseph Montanaro at 514-660-3050, or via his website (MLS# 8621162)

Story Tools

Designed by developer Matthew Shear, this six bedroom, 5.5 bathroom cottage is located in Mont Tremblant. The exterior wood is Alberta cedar, which lasts much longer than other types of exterior woods. The stone is a type of slate that resembles sandstone.

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